Thursday, January 16, 2014

The Death Of Luis Martinez

Sadly, he died in September, with he wrestling world just now finding out. Luis Martinez has passed away after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer.

During the 1960s and 1970s, Martinez was a major draw in Arizona, though he was also a main eventer in the Midwest, Japan and even Africa.

His feuds with The Sheik and Killer Brooks were among the bloodiest ever. These took on a national scope, but were also pairings that drew well in Phoenix, when Luis had his last Arizona run, circa 1973.

During the 1960s, Martinez also had long-lasting feuds with Don Kent and Don Arnold. He also teamed with Cowboy Bob Ellis on several occasions to take on the hated Hell's Angels/Comancheros. Heat against the Comancheros grew so great, that one night after Ellis and Martinez were bloodied badly, the two villains became the victim of evident fan payback. The Comancheros found every window in their car had been smashed by "parties unknown."

Other people Luis feuded with around the globe in his long career would include Chuck Karbo, Bull Curry, Pampero Firpo, The Mongols, Scarpiron Scranton, Hans Schmidt, Dr. Jerry Graham, Bill Miller, Johnny Valentine and many more.